The First Night festival in Boston was one of the first widespread kid-friendly New Year's Eve celebrations. / Paul Robicheau

by USA TODAY

by USA TODAY

Not every New Year's Eve involves midnight carousing. Those celebrating with kids can ring in the year with festivities that emphasize fun and family. "There are so many events and places. It's an embarrassment of riches," says Geoff Edgers, host of the new Travel Channel show Edge of America (premiering Jan. 22 at 9 p.m. EST), which showcases unusual festivals and activities. He shares with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY some favorite family-friendly ways to welcome 2013.

Aquarium of the Pacific Family Sleepover

Long Beach, Calif.

You'll sleep with the fishes and live to tell about it with this memorable aquarium camp-in. It's BYOS (Bring Your Own Sleeping Bag), but you get a pizza dinner and activities like a glow-in-the-dark scavenger hunt and fireworks. The next morning provides a chance to mingle with seals and sea lions. "You sleep in a room with fish tanks. I love the idea," Edgers says. 562-590-3100; aquariumofpacific.org

New Year's Eve

Hershey, Penn.

You're practically guaranteed a sweet year if you start it out in a town that smells like chocolate. . "It's like being in your own Willy Wonka paradise," Edgers says. For New Year's, the town - home to Hershey's chocolate - gathers to watch a giant candy Kiss rise from the ground. "That's their crystal ball." hersheynewyears.org

New Year's Eve Live

Houston

Houston plays up its funky side with an illuminated parade of elaborately decorated art cars . There's also ice skating and a concert starring Delbert McClinton. Midnight brings a 3D light show and fireworks, and it's all free. "For a kid or family, it's 'just add water.' You don't need to do anything, just take them there," Edgers says. nye.downtownhouston.org

New Year's Eve Celebration

Holiday Auto Theatre, Hamilton, Ohio

We spend so much time in our cars, it makes sense to start the new year in one watching movies at this drive-in about 35 miles from Cincinnati. The four-film line-up: Rise of the Guardians, Wreck it Ralph, The Hobbit and Skyfall. Midnight brings a countdown and apple-cider toast. "It's something genuine," Edgers says. 513-929-2999; holidayautotheatre.com

Mt. Olive New Year's Celebration

Mount Olive, N.C.

In this corner of North Carolina, nothing says New Year's like a 3-foot glowing pickle. The electrified cucumber is lowered 50 feet into a tank at the corner of Cucumber and Vine streets, the site of the Mt. Olive Pickle Co. The celebration occurs at 7 p.m. - midnight Greenwich Mean Time - and there are pickle snacks for everyone. "Big crowds come out," Edgers says. "How can you go wrong with a glowing pickle?" mtolivepickles.com

King Pine's New Years Eve Family Celebration

East Madison, N.H.

You'll find family fun, not holiday frenzy at this ski area about 21/2 hours from Boston. Still, the celebration is spirited with night skiing, a bonfire, and a torchlight parade in which kids ski with glow sticks. Non-skiers can ice skate at the adjacent Purity Resort, where there's babysitting available. "This ain't Tahoe, but if you have a family, it's perfect," Edgers says. 800-373-3754; kingpine.com

Kid's New Year's Eve

Legoland Florida, Winter Haven, Fla.

At midnight KST (Kid's Standard Time, aka 6 p.m.), a giant blue Lego brick descends to kick off 2013. There are fireworks and a dance party, but Edgers just loves the theme park's atmosphere. "They can do it without all that stuff and I'd say it's still a great place to be." 877-350-5346; florida.legoland.com

First Night

Boston

Edgers' hometown pioneered family-friendly New Year's Eve celebrations back when the country was ringing in 1975. Since then, so-called First Night festivities, which feature an array of cultural and kid-friendly offerings from afternoon through midnight, have spread to scores of cities. "I love the mix," he says. "You have the things kids love - ice sculpture, fireworks, face painting - but you also have cool stuff for adults." firstnight.org

Edgers says the hardest part about New Year's Eve is keeping his kids up until midnight. There's no need at this party which moves the clock ahead 12 hours so the countdown comes at noon. "You get to celebrate in a really cool environment and you don't have to worry about dodging the drunks on Bourbon Street," he says. 504-523-1357; lcm.org